A UNIVERSITY of Essex lecturer has paid tribute to a “special” Israeli man who died in a car crash.
Yoram Hirshfeld, 78, and his daughter Noga, 40, were killed after a black Alfa Romeo collided with five pedestrians outside a multi-storey car park in Ramsgate, Kent, on Wednesday evening.
Amnon Eden, 54, who lives in Colchester, reflected fondly on the first time he met Mr Hirshfeld about 25 years ago, when the latter stood in as a substitute lecturer at Tel Aviv University in Israel.
“For the first time ever, the lecture immediately made sense. Perhaps the best example ever for the difference that a great teacher can make,” the principal scientist told the PA news agency.
“His teaching was legendary. He knew how to explain complex math at the highest order in a way that even I, not a mathematician, and dyslexic to boot, could understand.”
Mr Hirshfeld became Mr Eden’s master’s and PHD co-supervisor when he studied computer science and he said when he needed help, “he was there to guide me”.
Despite moving to Essex in 2002 to take up a post as a lecturer at the University of Essex, the scientist since spent many holidays with Mr Hirshfeld at his home in Rosh Pina, in upper Galilee.
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